Article of repose with coordinated seat, back-rest and leg-rest



1958 A LORENZ 2,820,508

ARTICLE OF RE POSE WITH COORDINATED SEAT BACK-REST- AND LEG-REST Filed Jan. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I66 '62 0 E 54 a e I50 I64 v I 5 I52) \52 I25 lee I40 1% :44 mo I56 INVENTOR HNTON LORENZ ATTORNEY 1953 A. LORENZ 2,820,508

' ARTICLE OF REPOSE WITH COORDINATED SEAT, BACK-REST AND LEG-REST Filed Jan. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 328 57a 53? 555 542 ass 360 556 INVENTOR FINTON LORENZ ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1958 A. LORENZ 2,820,508

ARTICLE OF REPOSE WITH COORDINATED SEAT, BACK-REST AND LEG-REST Filed Jan. 28. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 41s I 4&0 478 469 528 527 56 INVENTOR I 6 5m 5% FNTON LORENZ ATTORNEY United States Patent '0 ARTECLE U]? REFUSE WITH COORDINATED SEAT, EA CK-REST AND LEG-REST Anton Lorenz, (Pecan Ridge, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Application January 28, 1954, Serial No. 406,735

10 laims. (Cl. 155--106) This invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly to reclining articles of furniture wherein a structure including a seat and a back-rest coordinated with each other in respect to their movements is rockably mounted on a support.

An object of the invention is to provide a leg-rest control arrangement in a reclining article of furniture of the type described above by means of which on one hand the leg-rest is swung upwardly and on the other hand is advanced forwardly when the back-rest and seat of the article of furniture are moved from the sitting position into the reclined position, so that the supporting portion of the leg-rest in the elevated position of the latter is extended to such a degree that a full support of the legs of a tall person resting on the article of furniture is assured.

Another object of the invention is to improve on the construction of articles of repose for supporting the body of a person, as customarily made.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a different embodiment of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a reclining armchair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a reclining armchair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away.

Referring now to Fig. 1, 10 generally indicates a support comprising two side frames 12 and 14 connected with each other by a transverse rod 16.

A back-rest member 18 including a downward extension 20 is swingably mounted on said support 10 at 22. The rear end portion of a seat 24 is likewise pivoted to the support 10 at 22. The rear end portion of a lower connecting link 26 is pivoted to the downward extension 20 of the back-rest 13 at 28. The front end portion of said connecting link 26 is pivoted at 30 to 1 movable members of a constrained linkage which includes the portion of the support between the pivots 22 and 38 as a stationary link.

The front connecting link or controlling link 32 extends downwardly beyond the pivot 30 between said link 32 and the lower connecting link 26. The upper end of a controlling link 44 is pivoted to the seat 24 at the point 46 spaced from the pivotal connection 34 between the seat 24 and the controlling link 32. Furthermore an arm 48 in the shape of a rod is swingably mounted on the front end portion of the seat 24 at the point 50 spaced from the pivotal connection 46 between the controlling link 44 and the seat 24. Said arm 48 is slidably engaged, in telescopic form, with a tube 52 rigidly connected with a leg-rest 54. A controlling bar 56 is pivotally engaged at spaced points 58, 60 and 62 with the controlling link 32, the controlling link 44 and the,

leg-rest 54. Thus the controlling link 44 is arrange between the controlling link 32 and the arm 48. When the back-rest 18 is moved from the sitting position into the extreme reclined position 18, owing to the linkages described above, the seat 24 is brought into the position 24' while at the same time the leg-rest 54 is swung upwardly together with the arm 48 and propelled forwardly along the arm 48 into the position 54'. The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by a stop 64 attached to the support 10 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dash and dot lines is limited by another stop 66 secured to thesupport 10.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the.-

pivoted to the support at 138 and the controlling link 132 is pivoted to the seat 124 at 134.

The other controlling link 144 is pivoted to the seat 124 at the point 146 which is located between the pivotal connections 123 and 134 of the seat 124 with the support 110 and the controlling link 132 respectively. The arm 148 swingably mounted on the front end portion of the seat 124 at 150 is telescopically engaged with a tube 152 attached to the leg-rest 154. The controlling bar 156 is pivoted to the controlling link 144, the controlling link 132 and the leg-rest 154 at 160, 158 and 162 respectively. In this embodiment the controlling link 132 pivoted to the lower connecting link 126 is arranged between the other controlling link 144 and the arm 148. r

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by a stop 164 mounted on the support 110 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chain shown in dash and dot lines is limited by a stop 166 attached to the support 110.

Again, during a movement of the movable members of swingably mounted on the support 210 at 239. The lower end of another connecting link 233 is pivoted to Patented Jan. 21, 1958 3 Said controlling member 263 at 279. The upper end of said connecting link 233 is pivoted at 231 to the seat 224. The seat 224, the back-rest member 213, the connecting link 227, the controlling member 268 and the connecting link 233 form the movable members of a constrained linkage, the stationary link of which is included in the support 210 between the pivots 222 and 235 A first controlling link 2242 and a second controlling link 243 are pivoted to the seat 224 at spaced points 234 and 246 respectively. An arm 248 swingably mounted at the front end of the seat 22- at 259 is telescopically engaged with a tube 252 attached to the leg-rest 254. The controlling bar 256 is pivoted at spaced points 258, 260 and 262 to the two controlling links 242 and 243 and to the leg-rest 254. A link 272 is pivoted at spaced points 274 and 276 to the controllin member 268 and to the second controlling link 243 respectively.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by a transverse rod 265 of the support 210 arranged for abutting engagement with the seat 224-.

The extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dash and dot lines is limited by an abutment of the back-rest 218 against the upper edge 267 of the rear Wall of the support 210.

During a movement of the movable members of the chair from the sitting position into the reclined position the leg-rest 254 is swung upwardly and propelled away from the seat 224.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the back'rest member 318 is swingably mounted on the support 31% at 322. The rear end portion of the seat 324 is pivoted to the back-rest 318 at 321 at a point above the pivotal connection 322 of the back-rest 318 with the support 310. A guiding link 335 swingably mounted on the support 310 at 337 is pivoted to the seat 324 at 346.

A first controlling link 342 is pivoted to the seat 324 at 334. A second controlling link 343 is pivoted to the seat 324 at 346 in coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the guiding link 335 with the seat 32 An arm 34% swingably mounted on the seat 324 at 356 is in telescopic engagement with a tube 352 attached to the leg-rest 354. The controlling bar 356 is pivoted to the two controlling links 342 and 343 and the leg-rest 354 at 358, 360 and 362 respectively.

The coordination of the movements of the leg-rest 354 with the movement of the back-rest member 318 is obtained by a connecting link 373 pivoted at spaced points 328 and 377 to the downward extension 32% of the backrest member 318 and to the first controlling link 342 respectively.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by an abutment of the seat 324 against a transverse rod 365 of the support 319 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members ofthe chair shown in dash and dot lines is limited by an abutment of the back-rest member 318 against the upper edge 367 of the rear wall of the support A movement of the movable members of the chair from the sitting position into the reclined position displaces the leg-rest 354 upwardly and away from the seat 324.

According to the embodiment shown in Pig. 5, the back-rest 213 and seat 424 are swingably mounted on the support 1 3 at 422. The upper end of a controlling member 469 in the shape of a bell-crank swingably mounted on the support 414]? at 42% is pivoted at 478 to a top connecting link 43f; forming an arm-rest. The rear end of said top connecting link -lfiti is pivoted to the back-rest 413 at 4-32.

Again the leg-rest control comprises a first controlling link; 442 and a second controlling link 443 pivoted to the seat 424 at spaced points 437-; and 446 respectively. The arm 448 swingably mounted on the seat 424 at is in telescopic engagement with a tube 452 attached. to the leg-rest 454-. Furthermore the leg-rest control comprises the controlling bar 456 pivoted to the first controlling link 442 at 458, to the second controlling link 443 at 460 and to the leg-rest 454 at 462. The front end portion of the connecting link 472 is pivoted to the first controlling link 442 at 484. The rear end portion of said connecting link being pivoted to the controlling member 469 at 475, thus upon a movement of the back-rest 418 from the sitting position shown in full lines into the reclined position shown in dash and dot lines the leg-rest 45 i is lifted and moved forwardly from its position shown in full lines into the position shown in dash and dot lines.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by an abutment of the seat 424 against a transverse bar 465 of the support 410 and the extreme reclined position of said movable members of the chair is limited by an abutment of the back-rest 418 against a stop 466 mounted on the support 410.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the back-rest 518 and the seat 524 are swingably mounted on the support 510 at 522. One end of a connecting link 527 is pivoted at 528 to the downward extension 520 of the back-rest 518. The other end of said connecting link 527 is pivoted at 541 to the controlling member 568 swingably mounted on the support 510 at 539. The controlling member 568 is in the shape of a bell-crank lever carrying rollers 586 and 588 at the ends of its arms. The roller 586 is in abutting engagement with the seat 524 and the roller 588 is in abutting engagement with the first controlling link 542 swingably mounted on the seat 524 at 534. A second controlling link 543 is swingably mounted on the seat 524 at 546. An arm 548 swingably mounted on the seat 524 at 559 is in slidable engagement with the leg-rest 554. The controlling bar 556 is pivoted to the rst controlling link 542, to the second controlling link 543 and to the leg-rest 554 at 558, 560 and 562 respectively.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by the abutment of the seat 524 against the stop 565 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dash and dot lines is limited by an abutment of the backrest 518 against the edge 567 of the rear wall of the support 510.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in shape, proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest member, guiding means and a chain of links including a first link at one end of the chain and a first controlling link at the other end of the chain, said guiding means being connected to said support and engaged with at least one of said links of said chain, said first link being pivoted to said back-rest member, said first controlling link being pivoted to said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat-members with said support, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, an arm swingably mounted on said seat, a leg-rest slidably engaged with said arm, and a controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first controlling link, to said second controlling link and to said leg-rest.

2. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a back-rest structure, a seat-structure, said back-rest and seat-structures being pivotally connected with at least one of said structures pivotally mounted on said support, a controlling mass member swingably mounted on said support, a connecting link pivoted at spaced points to said back-rest structure and to said controlling member, first means positioned between said swingable controlling member and said seatstructure to effect movement of said seat-structure in coordination with said controlling member, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, an arm swingably mounted on said seat, said second controlling link being arranged between said first controlling link and said arm, a leg-rest slidably engaged with said arm, a controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said controlling links and to said leg-rest, and second means positioned between said swingable controlling member and one of said two controlling links to effect movement of the latter and of the leg-rest in coordination with said controlling member.

3. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a back-rest structure pivoted to said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being pivoted to said back-rest structure at a point above the pivotal connection between said back-rest structure and the support, a guiding link pivoted at spaced points to said support and to said seat, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, an arm swingably mounted on said seat, said second controlling link being arranged between said first controlling link and said arm, a leg-rest slidably engaged with said arm, a controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said controlling links and to said leg-rest, and means positioned between said backrest structure and one of said two controlling links to effect movement of the latter and of the leg-rest in coordination with said back-rest structure.

4. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a back-rest structure, a seat-structure, said back-rest and seat-structures being pivotally connected with at least one of said structures pivotally mounted on said support, a controlling member swingably mounted on said support, a connecting link pivoted at spaced points to said backrest structure and to said controlling member, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, an arm swingably mounted on said seat, said second controlling link being arranged between said first controlling link and said arm, a legrest slidably engaged with said arm, a controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said controlling links and to said leg-rest, and means positioned between said controlling member and one of said two controlling links to effect movement of the latter and of the leg-rest in coordination with said controlling member.

5. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising a support, a structure rockably mounted on said support and including a seat and a back-rest, linkage means interconnected between said seat and backrest and operable in response to rocking movement of said structure to coordinate the relative movement of said seat with relation to said back-rest, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, an arm swingably mounted on said seat, said second controlling link being arranged between said first controlling link and said arm, a leg-rest slidably engaged with said arm, and a controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said controlling links and to said leg-rest, said linkage means being in operative engagement with one of said two controlling links for effecting movement of the latter and of said leg-rest in dependence on movements of said structure.

6. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising a support, a structure rockably mounted on said support and including a seat and a back-rest, linkage means interconnected between said seat and backrest and operable in response to rocking movement of said back-rest into a reclined position to coordinate the relative movement of said seat with relation to said back-rest, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, an arm movably mounted on said seat, said second controlling link being arranged between said first controlling link and. said arm, a leg-rest slidably engaged with said arm, and a controlling bar having respective pivotal connections to said controlling links and to said leg-rest, said linkage means being in operative engagement with one of said two controlling links for effecting movement of the latter and of said leg-rest in dependence on movement of said back-rest.

7. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest member, guiding means and a chain of links including a first link at one end of the chain and first and second controlling links at the other end of the chain, said guiding means being connected to said support and engaged with at least one of said links of said chain, said first link being pivoted to said back-rest member and having a pivotal connection to said first controlling link, said first controlling link being pivoted to said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat-members with said support, said second controlling link being pivoted to said seat-member, an arm swingably mounted on said seatmember, said second controlling link being arranged between said first controlling link and said arm, a legrest slidably engaged with said arm, and a controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first controlling link, to said second controlling link and to said leg-rest.

8. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest member, guiding means and a chain of links including a first link at one end of the chain and first and second controlling links at the other end of the chain, said guiding means being connected to said support and engaged with at least one of said links of said chain, said first link being pivoted to said back-rest member and having a pivotal connection to said second controlling link, said first controlling link being pivoted to said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat-members with said support, said second controlling link being pivoted to said seatmember, an arm swingably mounted on said seat-member. said second control-ling link being arranged between said first controlling link and said arm, a leg-rest slidably engaged with said arm, and a controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first controlling link, to said second controlling link and to said leg-rest.

9. A reclining chair for supporting the body of a person comprising a support, a structure rockably mounted on said support and including a seat and a back-rest, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, an arm swingably mounted on said seat, said second controlling link being arranged between said first controlling link and said arm, a leg-rest slidably engaged with said arm, a controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said controlling links and to said leg-rest, and linkage means in operative engagement with one of said two controlling links for elfecting movement of the latter and of said leg-rest in dependence on movements of said structure.

10. A reclining chair for supporting the body of a person comprising a support, a structure rockably mounted on said support and including a seat and a back-rest, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, an arm swingably mount ed on said seat, said second controlling link being araee sos ranged between said first controlling link and said arm, a leg-rest slidably engaged with said arm, a controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said controlling links and to said leg-rest, and linkage means in operative engagement With one of said two controlling links for effecting movement of the latter and of said leg-rest in dependence on movements of said structure, said linkage means including a connecting link having an operative connection to one of said controlling links and a pivotal connection to said back-rest at a point below the level of said seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lee July 20, 1897 Allen Sept. 20, 1898 Norcross July 24, 1900 Luckhardt Mar. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 10, 1905 

